The impressive Edwards and Castrol Honda combination has won three of the four races held so far at the circuit near Magdeburg and Edwards believes Sunday could well be a turning point in the championship.

"We've always been strong at Oschersleben and there's no reason to believe this weekend should be any different," predicts Edwards.

He continues: "I spent a couple of days testing with Michelin in France last week and I know that they have the tyres it takes to win in Germany and HRC have been busy in the August break improving the SP-2."

Edwards trails championship leader Troy Bayliss by 39 points with three rounds, six races, to go in the 2002 campaign.

"Two wins for me in Germany would mean the points gap would be down to little more than a race win and that's if Troy's second in both races," Edwards explains.

Edwards also arrives in Germany having won the last three races and also secured victory in the Suzuka 8 hours race in Japan. His 2002 form has also seen him take 19 successive podium finishes in the championship from the 20 races so far just a fourth place in the opening race of the year preventing a clean sweep.

Team manager Neil Tuxworth says: "Colin is at the top of his game, riding better than ever and we've every reason to believe he will push Troy Bayliss and Ducati all the way in the battle for the 2002 title."

Castrol Honda Rumi team's Mark Heckles is hoping the tight and twisty Oschersleben circuit will provide him with an opportunity for two strong finishes aboard the HRC kit SP-2 machine.

"I'm sure I can do well at Oschersleben - providing we can find a good setting with the machine," says Englishman Heckles. "It's more down to the rider there and not so much horsepower so I'm looking for two points-scoring finishes."

Honda's World Supersport championship title hope Fabien Foret defends a nine-point lead in the series with three rounds remaining. The Frenchman has impressed throughout the 2002 campaign, taking three victories and he arrives in Germany in confident mood.

Foret set the pole position time at Oschersleben 12 months ago and took victory in the race, he believes: "The title is mine to win or lose now. We've worked hard to build up the points advantage and a win on Sunday in Germany will be crucial to winning the title."

The Frenchman adds: "The Oschersleben circuit suits the CBR600 machine so I've every reason to believe that I can win but I'll also be looking for points so a safe ride in Sunday's race is also very important."

Victory in the last round at Brands Hatch promoted Suzuki's Katsuaki Fujiwara to second place in the 12-round series with the top four riders now separated by 25 points, the total on offer for a race win.

A host of other Honda riders will all be looking for a strong end of season finish starting with success in Sunday's race, the first of three in September which conclude the championship.

Chris Vermeulen, on the Van zon Honda, is out to make amends after being taking out in a first corner crash in last year's race while Foret's team-mate Iain MacPherson knows that a top three finish in Sunday's race would give him a realistic chance of a top six championship finish.

Oschersleben data:
Superbike:
2001 Qualifying: Ben Bostrom (Ducati) 1m 27.610s
2001 Superpole: Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 1m 27.325s
2001 winners: Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
Lap record: Ruben Xaus (Ducati) 1m 27.669s (September 2001)

Supersport:
2001 pole position: Fabien Foret (Honda) 1m 30.620s
2001 winner: Fabien Foret (Honda)
Lap record: James Whitham (Yamaha) 1m 30.806s (September 2001)

World Superbike championship points after 10 of 13 rounds: 1 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 441, 2 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 402, 3 Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 257, 4 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Aprilia) and Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 206, 6 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 193, 7 James Toseland, GB (Ducati) 131, 8 Chris Walker, GB (Kawasaki) 126, 9 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Ducati) 107, 10 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Suzuki) 89.
Manufacturers points: 1 Ducati 455, 2 Honda 407, 3 Aprilia 206, 4 Kawasaki 175, 5 Suzuki 106, 6 Yamaha 16, 7 Benelli 10.

World Supersport championship points after round nine of 12: 1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 138, 2 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 129, 3 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 115, 4 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 113, 5 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 88, 6 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 87, 7 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 74, 8 James Whitham, GB (Yamaha) and Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 71, 10 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 54.
Manufacturers points: 1 Suzuki 173, 2 Honda 158, 3 Yamaha 140, 4 Kawasaki 116, 5 Ducati 57.